if so then try a reboot of the PC or look at re-installing MS office 97 or Excel 97.

If you take your installation CD quuite often you have a choice of options to choose from, either to uninstall Ms-office 97 or Excel 97
as well as to repair the file. You can locate the file and re-name it to Excel.old and then run the repair option given to you on the CD.

Jase